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Ellsworth planning board recommends Chapter 56 UDO amendments to City Council; resident urges careful review of report requirements
Summary
On May 6, 2026 the City of Ellsworth Planning Board voted to recommend proposed Phase One amendments to Chapter 56 of the Unified Development Ordinance to City Council and opened a public hearing; speaker Raymond Williams urged closer scrutiny of amendment/reporting procedures and the board directed staff to compile memos to serve as the formal planning board report.
The City of Ellsworth Planning Board voted May 6 to forward Phase One amendments to Chapter 56 of the Unified Development Ordinance to the City Council with a recommendation. Staff told the board the draft has been in circulation since February, that outreach to stakeholders has been conducted, and that staff expects to bring the package to council in June.
Planning staff noted the state "fix‑it" bill LD 273 (a correction to LD 1829) extends the statutory compliance deadline to next summer, giving municipalities additional time to meet new statutory requirements. "We are on target to bring this before council at their June meeting," the presenter said, noting the extended deadline provides breathing room for the rewrite.
During the public hearing Raymond Williams (56 Hancock Street) urged the board to closely review the proposed Article One provisions that consolidate amendment and revision procedures from across the UDO into a single place. Williams said some recent planning actions (for example, zoning overlay actions and design standards) had memos but not clearly labeled Planning Board "reports," and he asked whether the board had properly sent required reports to council in prior changes.
Staff and board members replied that memos and explanatory materials exist for prior items and that the board’s report can take the form of a cover memo or similar document. Staff agreed to compile existing memos where needed and confirm a form that satisfies ordinance and state requirements. The presenter also said prior map changes that lacked complete public notice will proceed to council after proper notice.
A member moved and the board seconded a motion recommending the Chapter 56 amendments to the City Council; the motion was recorded, seconded and the board voted in favor during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will compile the planning board report/memos for the Chapter 56 amendments, confirm notice and schedule the council hearing; council action is required to adopt ordinance changes.
